Carrier inserting and discharge device for pneumatic dispatch systems



Aug. 18, 1931.

J. J. s'roE'rzEL 1,819,307 CARRIER INSERTING AND DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS ATTORNEY J. J. sToE'rzEl. 1,819,307 CARRIER INSERTING AND DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR- ?NEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS VFiled Jan. 24.11929 2 Sheets-Sheer. 2

Patented Aug. 18, 1931 NI'@ STATES PATENT FEQ` JOSEPH .JOHN STOETZEL, OF QUEENS VILLAGE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'IO G it G- ATLAS SYSTEMS, INC., OF NEW YORK, NNY., A CORPORATION OF IIFV YQIl-I CARRIER INSERTING AND DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS Application filed` January 24, 1929. Serial No. $392,655.

rIlhis invention relates to pneumatic dispatch systems.' In pneumatic dispatch systems now in use, the insertion of acarrier into the line at an outlying or intermediate station involves opening the line, at said station, to the atmosphere; vwith consequent interruption of power and stoppage of other carriers. This becomes additionally objectionable, when, as frequently happens, there 1d is delay in closing the door or closure member which was opened to permit insertion of the carrier; with the result that the power remains interrupted and the progress of other carriers is prevented as long as said door is l5 open and the atmosphere thereby admitted to the line. Interference with the power such as above noted not only stops and delays carriers in transit, but is further undesirable in that if a carrier happens to be moving upwardly in a vertical portion of the line, the blocking of the power results in dropping of the carrier by gravity so that waste motion and increased delay in the movement of such carrier result.

Also, in the systems now in use, the withdrawal of carriers is accompanied-byinterruption of the power and delay in the transit of other carriers.

One of the objects of my invention is to l provide means for inserting carriers into the transmission line without interfering with the power, so that'the progress of other carriers may be uninterrupted. Thus, not only is the delivery of carriers in transit facilitated but the possibility of overloading due to an excessive number of carriers is lessened.

A further object resides in the provision of means whereby carriers may be withdrawn from the line without opening the latter -to 40' the atmosphere at the point of Withdrawal;Y

whereby interruption of the carrier propelling power, and consequent interference with the motion of other carriers, is avoided.

With these objects in view, my invention comprises a carrier inserting or dispatching device whereby a carrier may be placed in communication with thevtransmission line without, however, opening kthe line to the atmosphere.` Also, I have devised al carrier 50.` delivery or discharging device which provides for the discharge of a carrier from the line, and at the same time prevents the entry of the atmosphere into the line at such point of discharge.

Other features of the invention will be hereinafter referred to.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic View of a single operating unit of a pneumatic dispatch system equipped with carrier dispatching `and discharge devices embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l, and showing on an enlarged scale the carrier inserting or dispatching device in such position that the carrier is in communication with the transmission line.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. l is av view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the carrier dispatching device shifted to position for receiving a carrier from the clerk.

Fig. 5 isa view in vertical longitudinal section, on a scale larger than that of Figfl, showing a portion of the transmission line at the outlying station in combination not only with the carrier dispatching device of Figs.

2 4: but also with means whereby a carrier may be discharged without opening the linev to the atmosphere.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section and on a scale larger than that of Fig. l, showing the transmission line at the central or terminal station pro! vided with a carrier discharge d? -icc whereby a carrier may be withdrawn without admitting the atmosphere to the line at sei point of withdrawal.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention,A in Fig. l there is shown a transmission line unit of a pneumatic dispatch system which includes a station A (commonly known as the central or terminal station) and a station B commonly design ated as an outlying or intermediate station). Connecting said stations are a, transmission tube 5 through which carriers Uli are transmitted from station A to station B and a transmission tube 6 through which carriers are transmitted Jfrom station B to station A. rlhe terminal portion 7 ot transmission tube 6 is connected through a conduit 7a with a source of suction or exhaust 8. At 9 there is indicated a valve device tor controlling the flow of air through tne line, as isk well known in the art.

The transmission tube 5 is provided at'station A with an open bell mouth end 10 into which carriers may be inserted for dispatch to station B. At station B hoodlile member 11 is provided and is connected to the tubes 5 and 6, said member and tubes being in communication. withl each other so that suction applied to the terminal'portion 'if of the tube 6'results in the flow of air throughzbcth tubes 5 and 6; the air entering tube 5 at bell mouth 10 for. eventual delivery intosucticn drum.

Carriers inserted into tube 5: at station A are discharged. at station B throigh` hood member 11, and I have shown thelatter provided with my improved carrier discharge device indicated' generally by reference numeral 12. 'ransmissiontube Gis shew .n pr vided at station Bwith my improved carrn inserting or. dispatching4 device de i niiated generally as 13, through which. car may be inserted into saidftube for delivery to station A. At the latter'stationlhave shown tube 6.connectcd.to acarrier discharge device 14 similar to discharge member-12.

Prior to my invention the insertion oit a carrier into tube 6 at station B has necessitated the opening of the line tothe atmosphere. For inserting acarrier into the line at said station Ba. hinged' closure member has been providedz; suchmember being swung open when it is desired to insert a carrier. into tube 6, and atthe` same time openingy sont. tube to the atmosphere. Et will" be readily apparent that such` admission ofthe atmosphere into saidi tube nulliies the power in tube `5 andthat consequentlyany ea are at that time in transit. from stat-ion A to station Bare stopped;v until the line is again closed to the atmosphere atistation B.

Through the carrier dispatching device 13 which I have devised, a carrier may be inserted into the line at `station B without opening the line to the atmosphere. Such device is shown in detail in-Figs. 2-4, and maybe constructed substantially7 as follows:

Extending between the hood` member 11 and the terminal portion 15 off tube a coupling member 16. Said terminal. portion 15 of tube 6 is receivedl in the lower end ot' said coupling member., while into the upper end thereof thereprojects a sleevel? which fits into an aperture in hoodimennber4 i1., A curved passage 18 extends through said member 1'6 from sleeve 17 to sleeve 15.

Pivot'ally mountedon trunnions 19in memwhirl ber 16 is a rockablecarrier dispatching meniers that ber or cradle 20 having therein asleeve 21 for receiving a carrier 22. A handle 23 is secured to said cradle member whereby the latter may be conveniently rocked to the desired positions. When the member 2O is in its closed position, as shown in Fig; 2, the sleeve 21 therein is in communication with the terminal portion 15 of tube 6, so that carrier 22 may be dispatched into said tube. It may be noted in this connection that the coupling member 16 is provided with an aperture 24 above and` inline with the portion 15 of tube 6 aforesaid, through which aperture the carrier travels into said tube. A lid 25 is hinged to member 20 adjacent the sleeve 21 and covers the upper end. of said sleeve when said member 20is in the position shown in Fig. 2, whereby the entry oi. the atmosphere into saidsleeve is prevented.

Upon swinging the cradle memberv 20into the position shown in- Fig. 4;, the lidi 25 may be opened and a carrier thereupon. inserted into sleeve 21'.A At this time, as will be clear-el ly seen in Fig. 4', a solidportion of themember 2OA covers the opening 24' in member 16, so that the line is closed to the atmosphere'at` station B' notwithstanding the fact that; a

from that station. After inserting-a carrier into sleeve 21 of the cradle member-20 and then restoring the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2, the carrier drops through aperture 24 into tube 6 and: theneepasses to stati on-A. It will be seen that the byepass 18 provides constant communication between hood1 mem'- ber 11 and tube 6 regardless of? theI positionV ot cradle member 2O.` Thus provision is made for a continuousliiow of air through, tube 5, the passages 26 and 27 (Fig. 5,) of: hood 11, sleeve 17', by-pass 1.8, andztube-G to the source of suction 8, irrespective of theiposition of the carrier. dispatchingicradle 20; Theli`d25 may be closed manually by the clerk immediately atter'inserting aearrier into member 20, butsuch is unnecessary since i'fsaid lid is not soiclosed it willbe closedy automatically by the upper portion 16v of the stationaryl couplingr member 16 during thev rockingl of member 2()y Jf-rom'its position in Fig. 4 toits Fig. 2 position. lf desired said lid may be normally biased by spring means-toppen.

position.

From the foregoing description iti willI be the hood 11,'. This discharge device includes a tubular passage 28 in alignment with the channel 26 of hood 11, so that a carrier from station A, upon passing through said channel 26, drops into passage 28 aforesaid. The passage 28 is normally closed by a lidv or cover 29, which cover is pivotallyattached to the lower end of the casing 12, and may be normally biased to closed position by suitable spring means. The upper portion of said casing is offset to provide a chamber 30 in which is pivoted a gate or closure element 3l. The latter has a rearwardly extending portion 32 curved concentrically with respect to the pivot of said element. Within the casing 12 and extending from the lower part thereof into communication with chamber 30, is a small passage-way 33, the inner wall or partition 34 of which projects slightly upwardly beyond said passage-way to a point contiguous to the curved extension 32 aforesaid. The operation of the foregoing structure may be briefly summarized as follows:

When the carrier emerges from the passage 26 of hood member 11 and drops downwardly in the tube or casing 12, the air below said carrier is compressed, cushioning the movement of the carrier, and as the latter nears the lid 29 said compressed air acts to open said lid slightly, admitting the atmosphere to the port or passage-way 33. The chamber 30 thus receives air at atmospheric pressure, which acts to move the closure 31 above the carrier to the dotted line position in Fig. 5, and thus during the withdrawal of the carrier from the casing 12 the passage of air through said casing and into the hood 11 is prevented and the travel of succeeding carriers is undisturbed. Thus, the opening of the lid 29 and withdrawal of the carrier from the discharge tube 12 do not interrupt the transit of other carriers. t may be noted that as the closure member 31 swings from its full-line to its dotted-line position in Fig. 5, the curved extension 32 thereof, in conjunction with the partition 34, blocks the escape of air from the chamber 30, whereby a substantially undiminished pressure on said closure member is maintained in said chamber.

In Fig. 6 I have shown (on a smaller scale than Fig. 5 but a larger scale than Fig. 1) a carrier discharge device 14 which may be employed at the central or terminal station A. This carrier discharge member is similar to that shown in Fig. 5 and comprises a tube or casing having a hinged cover 29', a chamber 30, a pivotally mounted gate or closure member 31 having a curved extension 32, and a passageway 33 extending from the lower part of casing 14 into Comunication with chamber 30. As a carri-er drops into casing 14 and approaches the cover 29', the compressed air beneath said carrier opens said cover and admits air to passage 33', whereby closure 31 is actuated in the same mannerV as hereinbe'fore mentioned in connection with closure 31, thus preventing air fromentering tube 6 through casing 14, and thereby avoiding interruption of the power during the discharge ofthe carrier from said casing.

It will be evident that the closure members 31 and 31 arel readily movable into the respective chambers 30, 31 to permit the passage of carriers from hood 11 and tube-6 into the discharge casings 12, 14 respectively. It will also be apparent that, if desired7 the carrier inserting or dispatching device 13 may be `used independently of the carrier discharge deviceshere disclosed; it being evident that saidY inserting device is not dependent for its functioning upon the `particular form of means employed for permitting` discharge of carriers. Likewise, the carrier discharge devices here illustrated donot depend for their operation upon the particular form of carrier inserting or dispatchingdevice. When, however, :b'oth carrier dispatching and discharge devices such as here shown are employedthe progress of carriers in transit isnot disturbed either by `insertion or withdrawal of other carriers; and the propelling power is maintained uninterrupted regardless of whether carriers are dispatchedordischarged.

The terms and expressions VAwhichI have employed are used as terms of description and ,not of limitation, and I have no intention, inV

the use of such terms and expressions,` of excluding any mechanical equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various structural modications are'possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What -I claim is: l l

- 1. In a pneumatic dispatch system, a transmission line, means forcausing movement of carriers inserted into said line, a member shiftable to a position for receiving in one endthereof a `carrier for insertion'vinto the line, means for shifting said member to `a position wherein the carrieris inserted into the line through the opposite end of said member, and means wherebythefline is maintained closed to the atmosphere atthe place of insertion of the carrier regardless of the position of said member. A i

2. Acarrier inserting devicev for pneumatic transmission lines comprisingga member chambered to receive a' carrier, means for shifting said member to aposition for receiving a carrier and to another position for delivering the carrier to the' line in confibination with an element in which said member is mounted and provided with agby-pass providing constant communicationbetween adjacent portions of a transmission'line for permitting the flow of power for propelling the carrier, and means whereby the entrance of air to the line through the Chamber said member' prevented.'rrespeotivegothe position of said member.

3. Carrier dispatching means comprising in oombination'a. shitnble member having a carrier receiving ehalfnber71 and, an element in which said member is movbiy mounted and homing as. conduit providing eonstant communiczitionbetween ajjncent portions of a pnezrnnatiotransmission line, said element also mf having an opening through which a carrier may pass from said chamber' into said line, the; construction. and arrangement being; suchthetjwhen seidxrmember iss'hifted' to apposition for' receiving ai Carrier' e: portion of said member overlijesfseid opening-whereby the passage of air into. the line throughr the cerriem` receiving chamber ispre'venteolnv .4uV Carrier dispatching' memos comprising in combination a; shait'znble member provided 2@ with 'a chamberv having in vcarrier receiving enel aieznrrierdiseharging end,V an element in which sazid member is; movabiy mounted` :met heaving ai @enduit conneeting -acijncent portions oi' a pneumatic: transmission line, 2@ seid element also having :in opening through W-hieh ai carrierl pass from the discharging? @not of saidf, chambenimto said line', and meanselosng'theienrrier receiving end; of said chamber when itscarnier discharging' end; isl

in oommimidation withsaid opzemlng;l

5;:Cairrie-r: dispatching' means compri-sing ineombinastion an element having 'a conduit* connecting adjacent portions of itv pneumatie transmission line', zu member pivotaliy mount# 35 ed' on trrmnions imi seid elementi and provideci with ar @bomber adapiiec'ttoreceive a: Carrier iny one enct'thereof, mea-ns orshftings'aid member into position for disehmgingY seid Carrier through the opposite end ofY said ehamberintothe transmission: line, and means closingthe cairrierreeeivingend oi saidf mem-- berI when its discharge end? isili communica-- tion with said'line.- ,6; Currier dispatching means: eomprising *i5- in; combination t member' chamb'ered' to re# ceive e carrie-ITanfelementtim Whiehfsaid?r meniber` is movoblyminimized'` prom-ded' with a. by-pass: connecting adjacent portionsy of a pneumatic`- transmission lineforl permitting 1 50i the: flow: of powerk for propelling; `the carrier, means for shifting said member'toi eIV position forfreewmg aacerrlerx anditofanother position foei-delivering the'- carrier to' the actionoi 1 power` supplied'- thlzollgh said by-pnss, emol` meallswhereby'the,entrance.of airtothe-.line

through. the` Chamber in saidfmember is pre1; ventedr irrespective. oir the, position of. saidmember.. Y

In, testimony whereof,r I have signed, my

mi name t'o this speeiibat'ion this 22nd dey of January, 1929i Y A i "JSEPHJHN STOETZEL. 

